Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari, a prominent Sufi scholar, delivered a talk on February 14, 2025, at Yale University, organized by the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. The lecture focused on the Islamic concept of wilāya (sainthood), exploring its metaphysical and spiritual dimensions within Sufi thought.
Moderated by Dr. Rami Koujah, the event attracted scholars and students from various disciplines, fostering a dynamic dialogue between Sufism and academic research.
Shaykh al-Karkari emphasized wilāya as a cornerstone of the spiritual journey toward divine union, blending scriptural, theological, and experiential insights. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating lived Sufi traditions with scholarly inquiry, challenging reductive interpretations of Islamic mysticism. The event also introduced Nūn Magazine, a publication bridging contemporary Sufism and academic scholarship, which garnered significant interest.
This talk is part of the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies' broader mission to deepen understanding of Sufism as an integral aspect of Islam’s spiritual and intellectual heritage, fostering dialogue between Sufi practitioners and academics. The event underscored the need for renewed engagement with Islamic mysticism in academic contexts, emphasizing its relevance to the human-divine relationship.
This event at Yale University is part of Shaykh Al Karkari’s recent U.S. tour, which has included a series of workshops and lectures at leading academic institutions such as the University of Chicago, Yale, and Stanford. Through these engagements, Shaykh Al Karkari continues to foster meaningful dialogue between Sufi spirituality and academic inquiry, enriching the understanding of Islamic mysticism in contemporary scholarly contexts.
Shaykh Al Karkari also led a seminar on Islamic Sufi philosophy at Yale University, hosted by the Association for Philosophy in the Islamic World. The event, attended by researchers specializing in Islamic studies, explored epistemological, ontological, and metaphysical questions in Sufi thought. Shaykh Al-Karkari addressed participants’ inquiries and discussed Sufism’s role in human life, fostering lively engagement and intellectual exchange.
This seminar is part of the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies’ initiative to revive Sufi sciences through lived experience and academic rigor. It follows similar events at the University of Chicago, where the Shaykh explored Islamic psychology and existential philosophy, and at Indiana University Bloomington, where he delved into the spiritual significance of the patched cloak (khirqa muraqqaʿa).
By engaging with leading academic institutions, the Al-Karkari Institute continues to bridge Sufi practice and scholarly discourse, ensuring Sufism remains a vital part of contemporary intellectual inquiry.
About Al-Karkari Institute
The Al-Karkari Institute aims to engage in research and discourse on the diverse dimensions of Sufism. By exploring the historical significance and contemporary relevance of tasawwuf, we aim to illuminate the path of Islamic inner transformation for a global audience of seekers. For more information about Al-Karkari Institute and their initiatives, visit https://www.karkari.org.
